Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease: a series of 23 cases

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a rare but clinically important disorder due to its increasing incidence and its impact on renal function and the life of the patient. Between 1979 and 2005, this center performed 1614 kidney transplants, and 23 patients had PTLD. We undertook a retrospective study, analyzing risk factors, presentation, and evolution of the disorder. The most common clinical presentation was fever and adenopathy. All cases except one received calcineurin inhibitors, and nine were treated with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. Serology for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was negative in nine patients at the time of transplant, and in five it became positive on diagnosis of PTLD. The predominant disorder was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), either polymorphous (n = 11) or monomorphous (n = 7). The base therapy consisted of reducing or suspending calcineurin inhibitors and the addition of sirolimus and antivirals. Three patients received rituximab, and five chemotherapy. The disease progressed in 36% of the polymorphous NHL, in 67% of the monomorphous, and in 100% of the Hodgkin's lymphoma, whereas 10 patients had remission. Renal function worsened on diagnosis in eight patients, and the graft was infiltrated in five (confirmed histologically). Five patients lost the graft and 12 died; six due to infection and five due to PTLD. Survival was worse in the patients aged over 55 years. We conclude that in most cases EBV is positive on diagnosis of the PTLD, an age older than 55 years affords a poor prognosis, and lymphocyte infiltration of the graft is common, as is worsening renal function.